Weather News

Fresh funding for flood-hit events

Southern Queensland Country Tourism has welcomed new funding for flood affected events.

Tourism Queensland has announced a flood assistance program providing $150,000.

Fifty-six council areas flooded in Queensland this year are eligible to apply.

Country Tourism CEO Mary Clare Power says it is only a small boost but it is needed.

"Our wine and food festival in the park was cancelled. I would think that event then has the opportunity to apply for some support under this fund to restage this event in the future," she said.

"It's not a huge amount of money but it's $150,000 that wasn't available yesterday."

She is encouraging event organisers to apply for the latest funding.

"We've been talking about the food and wine in the park in Kingaroy, so I would be encouraging the people that run that event to put in an application to get support to help them look at running that event in the future," she said.

More than 20 events were cancelled or postponed across the Wide Bay during the recent floods and Tourism Minister Jann Stuckey says any group is eligible to apply.

"This funding is for events to be held between the beginning of June and the end of September," she said.

"We are looking for regions such as Bundaberg to come up with events that will bring tourists to the area and that are going to bring tourists and support the community with jobs."